Stake



Oct. 25, 1966 D. M. GLENDENNING ETAL 3,

STAKE Filed Jan. 28, 1964 INVENTORS DON M-GLENDENNING OMER L. KINDIGSYMETRY ATTORNE Y5 United tates Patent l 3,230,329 STAKE Don M.Glendenning and Gmer L. Kindig, Huntington, Ind, assignors to The LockeSteel Chain Company, Huntington, End, a corporation of Connecticut FiledJan. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 340,758 2 Claims. Il. 135--15) This inventionrelates to anchoring stakes and particularly to an improved ground stakefor use as a tent or other type of stake.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a ground stake suchas a tent stake that will be rugged in construction, simple in designand flush with the ground when used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ground stake having aV-shaped cross sectional construction and a separate head member weldedto one end of the stake.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a stake inwhich the separate head includes a line engaging hook adapted topenetrate the ground when the stake is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a ground stake inwhich reinforcing means may be provided along the stake near its upperend and along the line engaging hook.

In one aspect of the invention, a shank of a ground stake may be formedfrom a length of flat sheet metal of sutiable gauge that is of agenerally triangular shape. The flat sheet may be bent along itslongitudinal centerline to form angularly disposed sides producing a V-shaped cross sectional construction.

In another aspect of the invention, indented longitudinally extendingflutes, grooves or ribs may be formed along the angularly disposedsides.

In still another aspect of the invention, a head portion may be providedof much greater thickness than the gauge of the shank metal, and it mayextend at right angles to the longitudinal centerline of the shank, andmay be welded, or otherwise suitably fastened, to the end of the shankhaving the greatest cross sectional dimension.

In still another aspect of the invention, the extended end portion ofthe head may be bent toward the narrow end of the shank, and it mayinclude an indented, longitudinally extending, reinforcing flute orgroove.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing whichare merely exemplary.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tent stake in use and to which theprinciples of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the tent stake shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the stake minus its head;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the head of the stake;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the assembled stake and head of FIGS. 4and 5; and

FIG. 7 is a piece of flat sheet metal stock from which the stake isformed.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 7, a shank 10 may bemade from a piece of fiat plate of sheet metal stock of generallytriangular configuration. The plate may include a semicircular notch 11in its top edge 12, and separate flutes, grooves or ribs 13 ofsemicircular cross section extending longitudinally from the 3,280,829Patented Oct. 25, 1966 top edge 12 and lying substantially parallel tothe side edges of the shank 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the plate is bent along its longitudinalcenterline so that the shank 10 assumes a V-shaped cross sectional formas shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 having tapering sides 14 and 15.

Referring to FIG. 5, a head portion 16 may be made of a much heaviergauge of metal than the plate for shank 10, and it may include atriangular shape 17 adapted to lie over and cover the upper end of shank10. An extension 18, from the apex of the triangularly shaped headportion 17, may have a reinforcing flute, groove or rib 19 formedtherein of substantially semicircular cross section, and the extension18 may be bent downwardly toward the tapered end of the stake.

Referring to FIG. 6, in assembling the head 16 to the upper end of shank10, the outer periphery of the groove 19 in extension 18 is receivedwithin notch 11 so that head 16 rests fiat on the upper end of shank 10,and a welded joint 20 is shown as being provided between the head 16 andthe top edge 12 of shank 10. The weld may be made by projection weldingtechniques but other forms of welding can be used.

Referring to FIG. 1, in use, the stake is driven into the ground so thatthe head 16 is flush with the ground, and the bent portion of extension18 also is embedded in the ground so that anyone walking over the stakewill not trip.

Although various features of the improved ground stake have been shownand described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of theinvention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such detailsand certain features may be used without others without departing fromthe principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A ground stake comprising a shank made from a triangularly shapedflat plate of stock of suitable gauge, said plate being bent along itslongitudinal centerline to form said shank including two diverging sidesangularly disposed relative to each other throughout their length; afiat head of substantially thicker metal than and secured to said shank,said head having diverging sides and being of substantially the sameshape and size as that end of said shank having the greatest dimensionso as to lie substantially completely over and to conform to said end,said head including an extension bent from said flat head in a directiontoward the opposite end of said shank, and elongated reinforcing ribsformed in and extending along said angular sides, said head affording aflat surface to receive driving blows.

2. In a ground stake according to claim 1, wherein the end of said shankhaving the greatest dimension has a portion of the stock removedtherefrom to provide a supporting edge, and said extension on said flathead being adapted to be received in and supported by said supportingedge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 963,330 7/1910Simon 238-466 974,951 11/1910 Casady 23 8-366 1,209,396 12/1916 Collinset al. 238--366 1,555,323 9/1925 Kleinhessellink -15 1,592,128 7/1926Steinbreder 13515 1,661,867 3/1928 Armstrong 135-45 2,149,081 2/1939Wright 135-15 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

L. I. SANTISI, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,280,829 October 25, 1966 Don M, Glendenning et a1,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 1, line 30, for "sutiable" read suitable column 2, line 29, after"Although" insert the line 64, for "1,555,323" read 1,555,322

Signed and sealed this 5th day of September 1967,

( AL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner ofPatents

1. A GROUND STAKE COMPRISING A SHANK MADE FROM A TRIANGULARLY SHAPEDFLAT PLATE OF STOCK OF SUITABLE GAUGE, SAID PLATE BEING BENT ALONG ITSLONGITUDINAL CENTERLINE TO FORM SAID SHANK INCLUDING TWO DIVERGING SIDESANGULARLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT THEIR LENGTH; AFLAT HEAD OF SUBSTANTIALLY THICKER METAL THAN THE SECURED TO SAID SHANK,SAID HEAD HAVING DIVERGING SIDES AND BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAMESHAPE AND SIZE AS THAT END OF SAID SHANK HAVING THE GREATEST DIMENSIONSO